Valve



July 11, 1944. c. B. pALzELL ET Al. 2,353,549

' VAIJVE I y Filed April 1s, 1941 Patented July 11, 1944 UNITED STATES l PATENT oFFl'cE 8 Claims.

This invention relates relates to valves. More particularly this invention relates to a combination of elements in a sanitary valve of the type used in the: handling of foodstuffs and the method of making the valve.

This application is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 274,409, entitled Sanitary valve, which application was filed May 18, 1939, now Patent No. 2,289,632, granted July 14, 1942.

The aspect of this invention directed to the improved valve adjusting means is specifically described and claimed in the co-pending divisional application Serial No'. 534,957, iiled May 10, 1944, and entitled Valve adjustment.

Sanitary valves oi the type contemplated by this invention are normally subjected to Yuses which require frequent disassembly and cleaning of the various elements of the valve. It, therefore, becomes desirable to provide a valve which is readily disassembled and re-assembled and in which all of the elements, when disassembled, may be readily'cleaned and inspected. Frequently, to secure a design which lends itself well to ready and repeated assembly and disassembly of the various elements of the valve, costly types of construction and design features become necessary, making the commercialization of such a-valve prohibitive. AThe accompanying drawing illustrates the preferred embodiment of the instant invention in a sanitary valve made according to the improved method of manufacture. j

The principal object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive valve of simple, sanitary design in which the body of the valveI may be formed from a Wrought sheet metal pipe coupling, such as a T or a cross; in whichv the valve body is `provided With a Work-hardened valve seat; in which a valve element is providedwhich is hardened to a degree inexcess of the harde ness of the valve seat; in which the valveV seat is formed in a wrought metal valve body or shell by contacting, deforrning or vrolling-in a portion of the valve shell; in which the valve stern actuator is of simple `design,leasily machined and easily cleaned and inspected; in Ywhich the valve body is formed from a standard wrought metal pipe couplinglvrithout altering the overall dimensions of the coupling and without destroying the adaptability of the coupling A,for its normal use; in which the valve stem and valve stem actuator `are operatively joined by a readily disengageable joining` element which 'may also serve as. a handfsrip and which isncrmally locked in position; `in which the improved features incorporated in the design thereof make possible the manufacture of a less costly sanitary valve; and in which the simple design facilitates the rapid assembly and disassembly of the valve mechanism.

Other advantages and objectives of the pres-.- ent invention will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is an'elevational View, partially in broken-away section, of theV improved valve.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of a portion of a modified form of valve stem actuator including breached openings for receiving the modified joining rod and hand grip.

VFigure 8 is an elevational View, partially in broken-away section, of the top .portion of the valve head and modified valve stem and valve `stem actuator, a. portion of which is shown in Figure 2, with bro-ached openings in the'valve stem and valve stern actuator to receive the combined joining rod and hand grip Figure 4 is va view similar to Figure 3 showing a further modied arrangement for operatively joining the valve stem and valve stem actuator. Y

Referring to the drawing, in which like numerals are u sedV to identify like elements, Il) represents a wrought sheet metal pipe coupling cr fitting of the standard type in the form of fa T having a plurality or multiplicity of branches II. The fitting I0l is of a thin-walled type, the Walls of which are not satisfactorily adaptable for threading and, therefore, the several branches are preferably provided at their ends with nipples I2 which are welded tothe ends of the thin-walled branches and which are -provided with inwardly beveled end faces I3 and peripheral couplingI threads I4.

` In the preferred embodiment of the improved Valve, as shown in Figure 1, a conventinal wrought metal T fitting is used for the valve body.. However, a similar' type of fitting, but

inthe shape' of a cross, could as readily be adapted for use vas the -valve body.

ff the valve, as` illustrated in Figure l, the nipple I2 of the upper branch II is provided with a countersunk annular shoulder I5 `formed by the cylindrical bore Iii which is concentric with the axis of the upper branch II. Seated on the shoulder I5 is a centrally apertured elylindrical disk Il. A valve head I8 is ttedinto the nipple I2 of the upper branch IIV and, for sealing 'and centering engagement with the nipple I2, is provided with a peripheral, beveled faces I3 and IS are urged into engagement byk the pressure applied by a coupling nut 2l having 'l an inwardly extending flange 22 which overlappingly and compressively engages a peripheral flange 23 on the Valve head I8 when the nut 2l is threaded into place on the upperrnipple I2.

The valve head I8 is provided'with a central upwardly extending shank 24 provided on itsv outer periphery with screw threads 25 to engage complementary screw threads 26 of an open-end*- edtubular valve stem actuator 2l. VThe valve stem 2B extends into the valve body or shell I0 through a central opening 29 in the valve head I8, cylindrical base 20, shank 24 and the central aperture in the disk I1. The Valve stem 28 is joined to the valve stem actuator A2I by a rod or hand grip 30 which passes through an opening 3| in the upper end of the valve stem 28. The opening 3I is alined with similar-sized openings 32 in the upwardly extending bracket arms or forks 33 of the bifurcated substantially cylindrical valve stemactuator 2'I through which forks the rod 3U also passes. The valve stem actuator 21 is-` formed ofgan open-ended tube-like member with opposed substantially triangularlyvshaped portions removed from the walls thereof to :form the upwardly extending triangularly shaped bracket elements 33.

In the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1, rod 30 is provided at one end with a shoulder 34 vadapted to abut against` the adjacent bracket element 33. By such an arrangement, the possible movement of the rod 30 from left to right is limited. d

The opposite en d of the rod 3Q is provided with an elastic band 35 or equivalent removable lockingelement which is positioned adjacent the out er surfacerof the opposite or righthand bracket element 33, as shown in vFigure 1, and abuts thereagainst, thereby limiting the movement of the rod 30 fromvright to left. By this arrangement of the stem actuator 2'I, rod 30, shoulder 34 and locking element 3.5, the rod 30 is disengageably locked in operative position to operatively join the valve stem 28 and valve stem actuator 2L To remove the rod 30 from its position, as just described, it is necessary to remove the locking band or element 35 yfrom the rod 30 and then withdraw the rod 3rfrom the alined openings 3| and 32 by moving the rod 30 in a leftwardly direction.

The valve stem 28 is provided at its lower extremity which extends into the valve body or vshell I0 with a frusto-conical valve element 3d. It should be noted that the inner diameter of the upper branch II of the 'valve shell I0 is greater than the outer diameter of the valve element 36, thereby enabling the ready withdrawal ci I the valve stem 28 and the valve element 36 from the valve body Ithrough the upperbranch Il of the body lo. l j Y v A resilient gasket 3'1V is longitudinally andradially compressed between the disk I 'I andV the inwardly beveled shoulder 38 in the lower face Vof the cylindrical Vbase 20 of the valve'head I'8 to seal the valve stem 28 in the opening 29 which functions as a valve stem bearing in the valve head I8. By so compressing the resilient gasket 31, the gasket 31 is sealed against the disk I 1, the valve stem 28 and the cylindrical base 2D, thereby effectively sealing the opening 29 in the valve head I8.

The valve element 36 is adapted to be seated on a :valve seat 39 in the lower branch II of the pipe 'coupling comprising the valve shell or body Ill. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1 the upper and lower .branches II of the valve body IIJ are in axial alinement. The valve element 36 may be formed of hardened steel and vmay. preferably be made of such material or be so treated as to be harder than the valve seat 39 and also made so hard as not to be readily ze Y scratched or scored during the cleaning, assembling or disassembling of the valve. The valve seat 39 is formed in the lower branch II of the wrought metal fitting ID by contracting or projecting inwardly a rib or bead of the desired diameter in the thin wall of the lower branch II.

The projecting or inward working of the metal in a portion of the lower branch II to form the seat 39 mayjbe accomplished by rolling-n a groove, rib or bead. The rolling-in operation, to secure a Valve seat of the desired cross section, may be carried out by the use of a mandrel (not shown) on the interior of the lower branch Il and a rolling wheel (not shown) on the outside of the t'ting I Il. The rib or valve seat is projected inwardly by the applicationv of pressure on the rolling wheel to urge inwardly the engaged surface of the lower branch II. This is accomplished by either rotating the Wheel around the outer surface of the lower branch I I or by rotating the lower branch II with the mandrel and wheel stationary. Said mandrel and rolling wheel are provided with complementary surfaces so as to form the rib, groove or valve seafl of the desired cross section and dimensions.

It is important to note that, by this method of forming the valve seat in the branch II of the wrought metal coupling element, the remaining portions of the coupling element or shell I0 are in no way distorted and the overall dimensions are not altered. The mandrel and rolling wheel, as just referred to, which are used for the rolling-in or deforming operation in the formation of the valve seat 39, may be of any one or more of the conventional types used for similar operations. l By so forming the valve seat 39 in the wrought sheet metal pipe fittingV comprising the valve body or shell I0, the seat 39 is substantially work-hardened which tends to increase the period, of usefulness of the Valve. An important aspect of thepresent invention is, however, the possible Vuse of a very hard valve element 36 which, when the valve seat 39 becomes worn or defective, may then be replaced in a new valve body made from another inexpensive, standard, wrought metal, sanitary fitting or coupling element IIJ of the type shown in Figure 1. Figu'res'2 and 3 disclose a modified arrangement for operatively coupling the valve actuator 27 'and'valve stem 28 and locking the coupling or handl grip 30 in operative position. In the modi-l jed.' arrangement 0I?V Figures Y2 and 3 one ofthe openings 32i`n' theactuator 2'I is broached at 40 and the vopening 3l of lthe. valve stem 28 is broached at 4I'. The broachings 40 and 4I form keyways to receive the stud or key 42 carried by the rod 30, as shown in Figure 3.

" In :Figure v3 the stud.42 is shown as having.

'been rotated through an angle `of approximately ninety degrees after passing through the broached keyways 40 and 4I. The opening 32 in the righthand lbracket 33 of theactuator 21 of the modified construction shown in Figure 3 is not provided with a keyway and consequently the key or stud 42 prevents the ready movement of the rod 30 out of coupling position. `The rod 30 may be readily removed by alining the stud -or key 42 with the keyways 40 and A4I and then moving the rod 3U in a leftwardly'directionf- The modification shown in Figure- 3 may-be simplified by broaching either or both of the openings 32 in either or both of the bracket arms 33 of the actuator 21 and omitting the broaching `4I in the opening 3| of the valve ystem 28. Such a further modication would result in a stronger valve stem and when' the openings in both of the bracket arms 33 are broached would permit the insertion of the handle 30 from either side of the actuator 21.

Figure 4 discloses a still further modification of the arrangement of the actuator 21, valve stem 28 and joining or coupling rod 30. In the modification shown in Figure 4 the rod 30 is provided at its mid-section with opposed shoulders 43 by reducing the diameter of the mid-section of the rod 30. After the rod 30 has been passed through the aligned openings 32 in the actuator 21 and 3| in the valve stem 28. the actuator 21 is given a slight rotary motion. The slight rotary motion of the actuator 21 is not transmitted to the Valve stem 28 until the openings 32 and the opening 3| have been moved out of alinement. As soon as such disalining movement has been accomplished, the opposed shoulders 43 will engage the edges of the opening 3| in the valve stem 28, thereby locking the rod 30 in operative position. Obviously, to permit the removal of the rod 3U from such operative position, as shown in Figure 4, the openings 32 and 3|, which are all of the same diameter and large enough to allow the passage therethrough of the shoulders 43, are rotated into alinement whereupon the rod 30 may be withdrawn in either direction to uncouple the actuator 21 from the valve stem 28.

The improved valve, as shown in its preferred embodiment in Figure 1, may'be assembled by rst assemlbling the disk I1, then the gasket 31 and then the valve head IB on the stem 28 by telescoping the same thereover. The lower end of the valve stem 28 with the valve element 36 is then inserted into the upper branch I| of the valve body or shell I until the complementary beveled faces I3 and I9 are in engagement. The coupling nut 2| is then telescoped over the valve head I8 and threaded onto the upper nipple I2, thereby urging the complementary beveled faces I3 and I9 into sealing engagement and compressing the gasket 31 between the disk I1 and the beveled face 38.

The tubular valve actuator is next threaded onto the outer periphery of the upper shank 24 of the valve head I8 until the openings 32 in the upwardly extending brackets 33 of the actuator 21 are in alinement with the opening 3| in the valve stem 28. The rod 3l] is then passed through the alined openings 3| and 32 until the shoulder 34 engages the left bracket 33 of the actuator 21 whereupon the locking ring or band 35 is slipped over the right end of the rod to lock the same in operative position operatively joining th'evalve stem 28 and the valve stem actuator 21. Obviously the procedure for disassembling th valve is just the reverse of that above recited for assembly of the valve. However, the valve actuating mechanism, valve head. and valve stem with its attached valve element 3B may lbe entirely removed from the valve casing I0 by the uncoupling of the coupling nut 2| from the upper nipple I2. As just-set forth, this invention provides an improved valve mechanism in which all of the objectives recited in the forepart of this application may be successfully accomplished. Obviously it is of great importance to be able to makean inexpensive and wholly satisfactory valve from the combination of the comparatively few opl'- erating elements as above described. It is equally important to be able to form the valve body from a standard wrought sheet metal pipe coupling, such as a T or a cross, in the manner as previously s-et forth. It is possible, by the use of such a standard wrought sheet metal pipe fitting, to fabricate a valve body in a much less expensive manner than when the valve lbody is fabricated from a casting or the like in which it is necessary to originally provide sufficient metal to permit the formation of the valve seat by cutting out the excessive metal, all of which then becomes waste material.

The method of forming the valve seat in the valve body, as ,previously recited and as shown in the preferred embodiment in the drawing, is unique and novel, inexpensive and permits the adaptation of standard fittings, such as crosses, Ts or `other pipe couplings, for the formation of valve bodies. rThe preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in the drawing, comprises a valve which is quickly assembled and disassembled, easily cleaned and inspected, and of simple and inexpensive construction.

Having thus described the illustrated preferred and modied embodiments of the invention in an improved valve, the novel method of making the valve body and the novel manner in. which the various elements of the valve enter into intercooperating relation one with another, the invention is not to be restricted to the specifically illustrated embodiments thereof as disclosed except in so far as necessitated by the prior art and the spirit of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

l. In combination, a valve body comprised of a wrought metal pipe coupling, a valve head mounted on said coupling, a valve stem extending into said valve body through said valve head, a valve element on the inner end. of said valve stem, and a valve seat comprising a deformed portion of the wall of said valve body.

2. In combination, a valve body comprised of a wrought metal shell, a valve head mounted on said shell, a valve stem extending into said body through said head, a hardened valve element on the inner end of said stem, and a valve seat comprising a deformed portion of the wall of said shell, said shell being formed of wrought metal which is softer thansaid hardened valve element.

3. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a valve body comprised of a wrought metal pipe coupling having a plurality of branches, a valve head mounted on one of said branches, a valve stem extending into said body through said valve head, a valve element on the inner end of said valve stem, and a valve seat formed in one of said branches by projecting inwardly a portion of the Wall of said body.

4. A valve bodyr comprising a wrought metal pipe coupling having a plurality of branches and a vvalve seat formed in one of said branches by rolling-in aportion of the Wall of said branch into the desired shape of said seat.

5. A valve body comprised of a wrought metal shell having a work-hardened valve seat formed in the Wall of said shell by Working a portion of said shell into the desired shape to form a valve seat.

6. The method of forming a valve body comprising the formation of a standard wrought metal pipe coupling having several branches and forming avalve seat in said coupling by deforming a portion of the Wall thereof into the desired shape of a valve seat.

Y l 7, The method of forming a Valve body having a Work-hardened valve s eat from a Wrought metal multi-branched pipe coupling which comprises rolling-in a portion of the wall of one of said branches to form an inwardly projecting annular valve seat, said valve seat being work-hardened by said rolling-in operation.

8. A device of the class described compris-ing, in combination, a valve body comprised of Wrought metal and having a plurality of branches, a valve head mounted on one of said branches, a valve stem extending into said body through said Valve head, a valve `element on the inner end of said valve stem, a valve seat formed in one of said branches by projecting inwardly a portion of the wall of said body, a Valve stem actuating means, alined openings in said actuating means and said stem, and rod means passed through said alined openings for operatively joining said stem and said actuating means.

CHARLES B. DALZELL. HAROLD W. CHENEY.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,555,519., July 11, 191m.

CHARLES B. DALZELL,ET AL It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page l, first Column, lline 11,5, for "contacting" read --contr'acting--g 'and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to thereoord of the oase in the Patent Office.

signed and sealed this 5th day of september, A. D. 19ML.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

